Miniature electric motor



Jan. 24, 1939.

W. L. HANSEN 'MINIATQRE ELECTRIC MOTOR Original Filed Sept. 9, 1936 Jwadn J WILLIAM L-HANSEN Gum- Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIINIAT'URE ELECTRIC MOTOR Original application September 9, 1936, Serial No.

Divided and this application November 15, 1937, Serial No. 174,506

3 Claims.

This inventon relates to miniature electric motors, and in particular, to electric motors for operating secondary clocks.

One object of this invention is to provide a 5 miniature electric motor having a casing, with means associated therewith for aligning the field plates in the vicinity of the poles and rotor.

Another object is to provide a miniature electric motor having a casing with an aligning portion adjacent the rotor, and adapted to align the field plates of the motor in the vicinity of the poles and rotor so as to prevent any possibility of the rotor engaging the poles, yet maintaining a very narrow air gap of an accurate, predetermined width therebetween.

This application is a division of my copending application, Ser. No. 100,027, filed September 9, 1936.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the miniature electric motor of this invention, with the field plate structure in position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the motor shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the motor shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the motor shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front elevation similar to Figure 1, but showing the casing and rotor unit only, the field plate structure having been removed.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the casing and rotor unit shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section along the line 'l---! in Figure 5.

In general, the miniature electric motor of this invention consists of a casing with a rotor rotatably supported thereon, the casing containing appropriate reduction gearing if the motor is to be used for operating a secondary clock. Immediately adjacent the rotor is an aligning portion for engaging the field plate structure of the motor in the vicinity of the rotor so as to accurately position the field poles relatively to the rotor,'yet prevent actual contact therebetween. This aligning portion is preferably of cylindrical or conical configuration, and cooperates with the means for securing the field plates to the motor casing.

Referring to .the drawing in detail, Figures 1 50 and 2 show the motor of this invention as having a casing ill with a gear box ll forming a part thereof, and projecting bosses l2 on either side thereof (Figure 6). The casing I is provided with a base plate I3 having lateral ears l4 and a. downwardly projecting portion l for securing the motor to any suitable support (Figures 5 and 6).

Projecting outwardly from the gear box' H is an ning member l6 preferably of cylindrical or slightly tapered conical form, as shown in Fi ure 7. The aligning member l6 serves to provde rotational support for the rotor shaft I1, upon which is mounted a non-magnetic hub ill. The non-magnetic hub l8 may be of brass, aluminum or other suitable non-magnetic material, and has secured thereto a pair of rotor discs I9 with radial slots separating them into pole portions. A continuous rim portion 2| separates the slots 20 from the periphery of the rotor l9, and pro- -vides self-starting characteristics for the rotor. .The rotor shaft l'l passes through the aligning portion l6, into the interior of the gear box H (Figure 7) where it is provided with a pinion 22. The pinion 22 meshes with and drives a train of reduction gearing, generally designated 23, terminating in the shaft 24, commonly termed the l-R. P. M. shaft because in a clock it makes one revolution per minute.

Mounted on the shaft 24 is a pinion 25 for driving the mechanism for operating the hands of the clock. In order to provide rotational support for the shaft 24 a boss 26 is formed on the cover plate 21 fitting into the recess 28 of the gear box II. The various elements of the reduction gear train 23 are mounted upon bearing projections or bosses formed either upon the cover plate 21 or upon the opposite inner wall of the gear box H. The details of the reduction gear train 23 form no part of the present invention, and hence, require no detailed discussion.

In order to provide support for the field plate structure, the projecting bosses l2 are provided with threaded posts 29 mounted therein and extending outwardly in directions substantially parallel to the axis of the rotor shaft l1 and aligning portion l6. Mounted on these threaded posts 29 are field plates 30 and 3| arranged in groups. The field plates 30 and 3| are similar in shape, 'and are provided with integral tongues 32 and 33 (Figure 4) which overlap one another and serve to unite the two sets of field plates 30 and 3! in the single field plate assembly shown in Figure 1. The overlapping tongues 32 and 33 are held together by bolts 34 passing therethrough, whereas the field plate assembly consisting of the thus united field plates 30 and 3| is held upon the threaded posts '29 by the nuts 35.

The field plates 30 are provided with small and large pole pieces 36 and 31, respectively, whereas the field plates 3| are provided with similar small and large pole pieces 38 and 33, respectively. The large pole pieces 31 and 39 are provided with shading coils 40. The inwardly facing pole surfaces of certain of the field plates 3| engagethe surface of the aligning portion l6, and are thereby caused to approach closely to the peripheral rim 2| of the rotor is without actually engaging the latter. In this maner the most efllcient operation of the motor is insured, yet rapid and inexpensive assembly is likewise facilitated. The

field plates and 3| are energized by a field coil 8| wound around the multiplicity of overlapping tongue portions 32 and 33, the leads "and 43 of which are connected to an appropriate energizing circuit, such as the electricrcurrent mains or ordinary house circuits.

In assembling the motor of this invention the reduction gear train 23 is placed in position within the gear box I l, and the cover plate 21 secured within the recess 28. The rotors l9 and hub I8 are likewise secured on the rotor shaft l1. After the field coil ID has been mounted upon the overlapping tongues 32' and 33 of the field plates 30 and 3|, the bolts34 are inserted to unite the assembly. Meanwhile, the shading coils 40 have been mounted upon the large poles 31 and 39, uniting each assembly of field plates 30 and 3!. The field unit is then placed upon the projecting threaded posts 29, which pass through holes in the field plates 30 and 3|. The holes (not shown) for the posts 29- and bolts 34 are slightly oversize in order'to provide a measure of adiustabilitv.

The inwardly facing surfaces ofthe poles 36. 31, 33 and 39 come to rest against the outer surface of the aligning portion l6. whereupon the nuts 35 may be tightened in order to secure the field unit in position. This arrangement spaces the poles 36. 31,- 38 and 39 at an accurate predetermined distance from the peripheries 2| of the rotors l9, yet prevents actual contact therebetween. This feature, therefore, becomes of great importance in the mass production of such motors, because an accurate'spacing of the parts is automatically insured without the necessity of careful attention thereto by the workman assembling the parts. The aligning portion IG automatically takes care of the proper spacing of the poles 36, 31, 38 and 39 from the peripheries 2| of the rotors l9, and no further attention is required. It is also impossible for the user or repairerof-one of these clock motors to bring the poles into engagement with the rotors, and therefore, a motor of vself-aligning characteristics is obtained. I I

n will be understood that I desire to comprehend within myinvention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the in- 'vention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what Ivclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a miniature electric motor, a casing, an outwardly approximately cylindrical aligning projectionon said casing, field plates having pole portions arranged to engage said aligning projection, -a rotor shaft rotatably supported in said casing, a rotor on said rotor shaft outside said casing with its periphery closely adjacent "said pole portions, and a field coil arranged to energize said field plates, sai'd aligning projection being disposed adjacent said rotor'but spaced apart therefrom in an axial direction having portions substantially coextensive with the periphery of said rotor but of slightly larger diameter, -said aligning projection extending but partiallyinto the space between said pole portions whereby to space said pole portions at predetermined separations from said rotor periphery.

2; In a miniature electric motor, a casing, an outwardly approximately cylindrical aligning projection on said casing, field plates having pole portions arranged to engage. said aligning projection, a rotor shaft rotatably supported in 'said aligning projection, a rotor on said rotor shaft outside said casing with its periphery closely adjacent said pole portions, and a field coil arranged to energize said field plates, said aligning projection being disposed adjacent said rotor but spaced apart therefrom in an axial direction having an approximately cylindrical configuration with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said rotor, said aligning projection extending but partially into the space between said pole portions whereby to space said pole portions at predetermined separations from said rotor periphery. i

3. In a miniature electric motor, a casing having reduction gearing therein, a rotor shaft connected to said gearing and extending outside said casing, a rotor on said rotor shaft outside said casing, an outwardlyapproximately cylindrical aligning member adjacent said rotor but spaced apart therefrom in an axial direction and having aligning portions coextensive with the periphery thereof on a slightly largerdiameter, field plates having pole portions engaging said aligning memher for spacing said pole portions at predetermined separations from the periphery of said rotor, said aligning member extending but partially into the space between said pole port-ions, means for securing said field plates to said casing, and a field coil for energizing said field plates.

' WILLIAM L. HANSEN. 

